SCR CHAPTER 32
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR
JUDICIAL
COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S NOTE, 1979: The
following rules govern continuing education requirements for members of the
SCR 32.001
Definition.
In this
chapter, "judge" means a justice of the supreme court, judge of the
court of appeals or judge of a court of record.
SCR 32.002 Applicability.
The
commissioners of the supreme court and staff attorneys of the court of appeals
are subject to the educational requirements of this chapter in the same manner
as judges are.
SCR 32.01 Judicial education committee.
A
judicial education committee is created consisting of the chief justice of the
supreme court or his or her designee, the chief judge of the court of appeals
or his or her designee, the director of state courts, 2 circuit court
commissioners appointed by the supreme court, 8 circuit court judges appointed
by the supreme court and the deans of the university of Wisconsin and Marquette
law schools or their designees. The circuit court judge and circuit court
commissioner members shall serve staggered 2‑year terms and may serve not
more than two successive 2‑year terms. The dean of the
SCR 32.02 Compulsory education required.
(1) A judge
shall earn 60 credits each period of 6 years by participating in educational
programs approved by the judicial education committee. The 6‑year period
begins on January 1, 1977, for a judge in office on that date and on the date
of taking office for a judge taking office after that date.
(2) The committee may sponsor educational
programs for court support personnel.
SCR 32.03 Definition
of credit.
Credit
may be earned by attendance at both in‑state and national educational
programs sponsored or approved by the
SCR 32.04 Required
programs.
During
each 6‑year period, a judge shall attend at least once the
SCR 32.05 Minimum
and maximum.
A judge
shall during each year earn no less than 5 nor more than 15 credits at an in‑state
educational activity. The 15 credit maximum may be waived upon prior approval
granted by the judicial education committee or its designee upon application of
an individual judge. The 15 credit maximum does not apply to the year the judge
attends the
SCR 32.06 Programs receiving credit.
Credit
shall be granted for attendance at all programs for judges sponsored by the
judicial education committee. In addition, credit for other programs shall be
given for that portion of the program addressed to judicial education and
approved by the judicial education committee.
SCR 32.07 Credit for
other educational activities.
Credit
may be granted by the judicial education committee for other educational
activities undertaken by a judge such as writing or teaching. A judge may receive credit for teaching for
which he or she is compensated if the teaching does not interfere with the
judge's performance of his or her judicial duties and is performed outside of
regular court hours or while the judge is on vacation.
SCR 32.08 Reserve
judges.
(1) To be eligible for appointment or
reappointment as a reserve judge to perform judicial assignments, a person
otherwise entitled to appointment shall earn 5 credits during the calendar year
immediately preceding appointment or reappointment. The director of state courts shall determine
which judicial education programs may be attended to earn the required 5
credits. One credit is awarded for each half‑day of attendance at
programs sponsored or approved by the judicial education committee. Reserve
judges are not required to comply with SCR 32.04.
(2) A reserve judge is entitled to the payment of
a per diem and reimbursement of expenses incurred in attending judicial
education programs as required or permitted by sub. (1) or approved under sub.
(3), as well as in attending the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial
Conference during the calendar year of actual service, whether or not judicial
education credits for attending the annual meeting are claimed.
(3) The requirements of this rule may be waived
in an individual case by the director of state courts for good cause.
SCR 32.09
Noncompliance.
(1) If a
judge fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the director of
judicial education shall send the judge a notice of noncompliance by registered
or certified mail. The nature of noncompliance shall be specified in the
notice. Copies of the notice shall be sent to the director of state courts and
to the chief judge of the court of appeals or administrative district. The
notice shall inform the judge that an extension is being granted for
compliance. The director of judicial education shall have the authority to set
the period of extension up to six months, which will be of such duration to
reasonably allow compliance. For good cause, the judicial education committee
may extend the period for compliance.
(2) After the period of the extension has passed
and the judge has not complied with this chapter, the director of judicial
education shall refer the violation to the judicial education committee for a
hearing and send the judge a notice of the hearing by registered or certified
mail.
(3) If the judicial education committee finds the
judge has not complied with this chapter, it shall refer the matter to the
supreme court for such action as it deems appropriate. Notice of such referral
shall be sent to the director of state courts and the chief judge of the court
of appeals or appropriate administrative district.
SCR 32.10
Applicability.
(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), this chapter
applies retrospectively to January 1, 1977, but judges may receive credit for
attendance at educational programs during 1976.
These credits are to be considered part of the required 60 credits to be
earned during the 6-year period commencing January 1, 1977, and ending December
31, 1982.
(2) SCR 32.08 and 32.09 shall take effect on
January 1, 1981.
Amended November 25, 1980;
November 16, 1982; January 21, 1985; February 8, 1985; December 2, 1992;
September 12, 1997; December 14, 2007.